From cellar to cellar, the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk Dolfynkus has grown from its Durban beginnings to its current Ballito home over the past 99 years.

The 40-strong congregation celebrated the milestone at its Sunday service at the old Pumpkin Theatre in La Montagne on April 26, reflecting on almost a century of community-driven faith. The current iteration includes its first female minister, Denise Schmidt, who joined in February, as well as its first female elder, Mariette Schroeder.

Mariette’s mother, tannie Ansie Schroeder, has been a prominent member of the church for about half the time it has existed, following it through multiple relocations.

“The congregation first met in the cellar of the Durban City Hall on April 23, 1927, before moving to the Women’s Friendly Hall soon after,” said tannie Ansie.

“On Sunday mornings they had to clean up after the previous night’s party, but they thrived and the congregation grew!”

The church bought its longest-serving permanent home in Congella in 1951, staying until 2017. During that time, satellite congregations were started in Pinetown, Ballito and Mandeni by minister TF Dreyer, who served for 37 years from 1981 to 2018.

“About half of the congregation moved to Ballito as the Dolfynkus church, while the other group now meets on the South Coast,” she said.

“After minister Dreyer retired, we had minister DS Jacobs and minister Jan Kay, before Denise joined this year.”

Following two years in Ballito, the congregation moved to the Westbrook Methodist Church before returning to Ballito in 2025. Despite multiple relocations, the congregation has remained strong, guided by its principle of God Voorsien (God provides).

“We are excited to be back in Ballito and want to be part of the community,” said Schmidt.

The church services are traditional and largely in Afrikaans, but the congregation is open to all. The weekly Sunday service is at La Montagne at 8.30am, while ladies meet on Tuesday mornings from 7.30-8.30 and men meet on Wednesday mornings from 7-8am.

For more information, visit Dolfynkus Hervormde Kerk on Facebook or contact minister Denise Schmidt directly at 084 600 0448.